Royal Tour Wrap: Day One1:25

The royal baby bump has made it’s debut in Australia, as Harry and Meghan tour around Sydney in a whirlwind day of events.

October 16th 2018

a month ago

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The trip couldn’t have come at a better time. Picture: MatrixSource:Matrix

SWARMED by paparazzi and looking remarkably refreshed as they descended on Sydney this morning, it’s clear that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have the world at their feet.

A lavish, Cinderella-esque wedding in May triggered worldwide adoration of the glitzy couple who are now being touted as the fresh faces of what many believe is an expensive and obscene anachronism — the British Royal Family.

And, as they prepared for the highly-anticipated southern hemisphere tour, which includes touchdowns in Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, the couple’s media managers made it clear this is no beach holiday for the royals — a good thing, given it’s currently chucking it down in Sydney.

Everything is not hunky dory back in the motherland. Credit: Media ModeSource:Media Mode

According to a press release from Kensington Palace, the pair will “focus on youth leadership, and projects being undertaken by young people to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the region”.

However, cynics might point out that if the pair really wanted to address social and economic challenges, undertaken by young people or not, they might want to look a little closer to home, a lot closer in fact.

Just today, Britain was declared to be entering a “moment of crisis” in its bloated and ailing negotiations with its neighbours in the European Union — leaving the country on the brink of economic and political chaos.

With less than six months before it leaves the bloc in its biggest shift in trade and foreign policy in more than 40 years, the latest round of talks in Brussels failed to clinch a deal on Britain’s divorce terms, with negotiators pausing negotiations just days before a leaders’ summit.

This is where Harry and Meghan will be when the s**t hits the fan back home. Picture: Wilsons Abel Tasman.Source:Supplied

When the young couple return home from their handsomely renumerated day job of shaking hands in idyllic paradises, they may have to organise another, far more depressing, diplomatic visit, a trip to meet the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson — comically named “Bojo” by some of his fans — if the Brexit mouthpiece and wannabe leader gets his way.

Today, he has laid down the gauntlet with a savage opinion piece in the UK’s influential right-wing newspaper The Telegraph — saying Britain is now in a “moment of crisis” and Ms May needs to toughen up.

“There comes a point when you have to stand up to bullies. After more than two years of being ruthlessly pushed around by the EU, it is time for the UK to resist,” he wrote.

“In presuming to change the constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom, the EU is treating us with naked contempt.”

The smackdown comes as latest round of Brexit talks faltered over the so-called “backstop arrangement” to prevent the return of a “hard border” — meaning there would be checks on people and goods passing through — between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Things are looking grim at home. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

It’s a crucial part of the withdrawal agreement on the divorce terms between the UK and the EU, and they just cannot agree on it.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims that this is because the two sides could still not bridge a gap between his demands that Northern Ireland stay in the EU’s economic zone and London’s rejection of any checks on trade between the province and the British mainland.

And, while Harry and Meghan are tucking into a barbecue lunch in New Zealand’s intensely beautiful Abel Tasman National Park in two weeks time, Britain could be plunged into even further chaos — as a general election could be triggered.

Harry and Meghan might have to hastily arrange a meeting with “Bojo” when they return. Picture: Andrew Parsons / i-ImagesSource:News Corp Australia

That’s because, on October 29, Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which keeps Ms May’s minority administration in power, has threatened to vote down the government’s budget if it does not get a deal on Brexit to its liking.

If that happens, it is very likely a general election will be called just five months before the UK is due to pull out of the EU.

In other words, Harry and Meghan may be coming home to a royal shambles which could leave their already uncertain country’s future hanging in the balance.

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Australia tour: where to see them and the baby bump!1:03

A surprise baby announcement has kicked off Prince Harry and Meghan Markle touching down ahead of their long-awaited tour of Australia. Where will they be travelling? Find out all the stops to see them in person here.